The president of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, mentioned on Monday that every one bills made by way of the football membership to an organization owned by way of a senior refereeing reliable had been for advisory issues and to not acquire any unlawful wearing merit. Laporta mentioned an interior investigation performed by way of the membership didn’t display any wrongdoing and he mentioned the case was once an orchestrated marketing campaign to discredit Barcelona.
He accused the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, of “trying to damage Barcelona’s reputation”. He additionally attacked their opponents Real Madrid, who’ve joined the prosecutor’s case towards Barcelona, pronouncing Real had at all times been traditionally appreciated by way of refereeing.
Spanish prosecutors closing month filed a criticism towards Barcelona over bills of seven.3 million euros (7.95 million greenbacks) from 2001 to 2018 to corporations owned by way of Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
Negreira was once vice-president of the refereeing committee of the Spanish Football Association from 1993 to 2018. A Barcelona courtroom has agreed to take the case. UEFA has additionally opened a proper investigation for a possible violation of the European football governing frame’s prison framework over the Negreira case.
Laporta advised a information convention that Barcelona, in its dealings with Negreira, had sought technical recommendation from “someone who has had a career in soccer”.
“The advice does not constitute any kind of misconduct or criminal offence,” he mentioned. Standing in entrance of a field wherein he mentioned there have been 629 technical experiences, 43 CDs and 4 further experiences, Laporta mentioned the pro recommendation was once made with transparency and that invoices registered in Barcelona’s accounting machine had handed fiscal opinions.
“The Spanish Tax Department sent a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office saying it could not prove that the payments to companies related to Mr. Negreira influenced the result of any match,” he mentioned.
Laporta additionally steered UEFA to be honest to Barcelona in its investigation. La Liga advised Reuters on Monday it will no longer factor any feedback referring to Laporta’s accusations.
“The Nergreira case needs to be fully investigated by the proper authorities,” it mentioned.
Tebas mentioned on March he had reported the case to UEFA as a result of no punishment may well be passed down beneath Spanish sports activities legislation since 3 years had handed because the alleged infringements. Reuters has requested Real Madrid for touch upon Laporta’s remarks.